This blog is produced by the Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research CABER) at the University of Illinois. CABER is under the direction of Hans P. Blaschek, professor and Assistant Dean of the U of I College of Agricultural,Consumer and Environmental Sciences Office of Research. This blog is a roundup of research news and related topics dealing with biofuels. It does not cover biofuel production and prices at this time.
Biofuels Journal
Date Posted: March 2, 2012
Students age eight to 12 have an opportunity to learn about renewable energy, including biodiesel, through hands-on activities and demonstrations.
The University of Idaho’s Biodiesel Education Program recently released a new curriculum designed to help elementary school age children understand the concepts of energy and renewable energy.
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Times-News Magic Valley
By Blair Koch Times-News writer Magicvalley.com
Posted: Thursday, May 12, 2011 1:30 am
On Wednesday, The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, the Dairy Research Institute and Idaho’s Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) announced plans to have 1,300 anaerobic digesters operating across the country by 2020.
The Center for Advanced Energy Studies, based in Idaho Falls, includes the U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho National Laboratory and Idaho’s research universities.
The focus is on increasing the economic viability of dairy farms and rural communities country wide.
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globalnewswire.com
MOSCOW, Idaho, Jan. 4, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A $25,000 donation from Texas entrepreneur Randy Hill and his company, APT Advanced Trailer and Equipment LP, to the University of Idaho has funded research focused on converting woody biomass to energy.
The gift has allowed the university to install a pilot-scale pyrolysis unit at its steam plant. Pyrolysis is a type of incineration that uses almost no oxygen. When applied to an organic material like wood, pyrolysis yields biofuel plus a small amount of charcoal.
Armando McDonald, professor of wood chemistry and wood composites, researches pyrolysis of woody biomass to create bio-oil.
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Biomass Power & Thermal
By Owen McDougal, Seth Eidemiller, Nick Weires,
November 23, 2010
A Boise State University study proves that low-energy feedstocks can be densified and when combusted produce heat output comparable to higher energy content fuels.
Fuel briquettes generated by the low-pressure compaction of paper, sawdust, agricultural or yard waste, etc. currently serve as an alternative to firewood, wood pellets and charcoal in developing countries in Africa, Asia and South America. Research at Boise State University in Idaho, explored both the caloric content and shape to optimize burn efficiency of the biobriquettes. The energy content of briquettes ranged from 4.48 to 5.95 kilojoule per gram (kJ/g) depending on composition, whereas the energy content of sawdust, charcoal and wood pellets ranged from 7.24 to 8.25 kJ/g. Biobriquettes molded into a hollow-core cylindrical form exhibited energy output comparable to that of traditional fuels. The study demonstrates that low-energy content feedstocks can be composted, pressed and combusted to produce heat output commensurate with higher energy content fuels.
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Posted by Natalie at 5:18 AM 0 comments
AmericanChronicle.com
Congressional Desk
April 01, 2010
Crapo co-sponsors measure aiding forest products industry
Washington, D.C. – Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has joined three of his Senate colleagues to introduce the American Renewable Biomass Heating Act, bipartisan legislation that could aid Idaho´s forest products industry while promoting renewable heating fuels. The legislation puts the use of woody renewable biomass on par with other renewable energy sources by offering substantial tax credits for the use of biomass from forests and private lands. It provides an investment tax credit (ITC) of 30 percent of the cost of installing high-efficiency biomass systems for heating in commercial and industrial buildings.
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Biofuels Digest
October 21, 2009 Jim Lane
In Idaho, new research from the University of Idaho and U.S. Department of Agriculture has found that biodiesel fuel is returning 4.5 units of energy for every unit consumed in its manufacture.
According to the National Biodiesel Board, the key drivers that continue to make biodiesel an efficient fuel choice include: New seed varieties and management practices are upping soybean yields; reduced tillage practices; modern soybean varieties that have reduced the need for pesticides; more energy efficient soy and biodiesel processing.
A copy of the report is here.
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Posted by Natalie at 5:02 AM 0 comments
BiofuelsDigest.com
In Idaho, researchers at the Idaho National Laboratory have developed a new technology to produce cellulosic ethanol. The researchers describe the process as bio-syntrolysis; it uses multiple technical steps, including the use of electrolysis to split water into oxygen and hydrogen, and combining this with a carbon-free electric source to convert up to 90 percent of carbon from biomass into liquid biofuel. Existing processes convert only up to 35 percent of carbon.
The researchers said that the process requires 1000 MW of power to produce 1 million gallons of fuel per day – the amount of power from a full-scale nuclear reactor, but far more than a conventional solar or wind power source can provide. In their process, oxygen is introduced with biomass to produce a syngas, while the remaining hydrogen is combined with the syngas is converted into liquid fuel.
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Posted by Natalie at 5:31 AM 21 comments
Labels: biomass, cellulosic, Ethanol, Idaho, synthesis gas
Idaho Business Review
POSTED: Monday, May 25, 2009
by Zach Hagadone
The term “wonder crop” germinates and blooms, or withers and dies, when the rarefied camelina sativa comes up in conversation.
With its bright yellow blossoms, this sturdy relative of mustard grows fast, grows in the cold, grows in drought and grows when ignored.
Its tiny seeds have an oil content of around 40 percent, and are exceptionally high in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Some scientists claim camelina can be used to produce heart-healthy oils and supplements, meal for livestock and, potentially, low-cost biofuel.
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Idaho National Laboratory
by Reuel Smith and Keith Arterburn , INL Communications & Public Affairs
Idaho National Laboratory recently signed an agreement to help OriginOil, Inc. validate and scale the company's proprietary technology for converting algae to oil. Representatives from the company converged at the U.S. Department of Energy lab for a February signing ceremony.
OriginOil Chief Technical Officer Vikram Pattarkine (left) signs an agreement on algae research with INL commercialization manager David Anderson.
Algae grows faster and requires less energy than other biofuel sources, or "feedstocks." But only a few technology companies have seriously pursued algae-to-oil research. In addition to INL's science and engineering strengths, the lab has a history of algae research experience dating back three decades.
"INL is uniquely positioned to analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of industrial systems and to develop algal resources for biofuels," J.W. "Bill" Rogers Jr., INL associate laboratory director for Energy and Environment, said at the signing ceremony.
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PRLog.org
University of Idaho selected as the recipient of a grant to study how trailers can be used to convert wood chips into biomass
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Apr 09, 2009 – Randy Hill, President of Advanced Trailer, today announced that the University of Idaho has been selected as the recipient of a grant his company will fund to study the application of Advanced Trailer’s agricultural crop drying trailer for biomass. Nearly two years ago Advanced Trailer began exploring the possibilities of using its drying trailer to remove moisture from woody mass by providing a trailer to the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center in Savannah, Georgia. This revolutionary application will remove moisture from wood chips which are used as fuel for the University of Idaho’s steam boiler plant located at their campus in Moscow, Idaho. The results of this new research at the University of Idaho will benefit biomass plants in other cities.
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Posted by Natalie at 5:23 PM 0 comments
Labels: biomass, crop drying, Idaho, wood
Capital Press
10/16/2008 12:38:00 PM
From jatropha to algae, new sources of biodiesel sought
Matthew Weaver Capital Press
The United States currently trails Europe in biodiesel production, a researcher says.
"We are way behind," said University of Idaho associate professor and chemical engineer Bingjun "Brian" He.
The major feedstock in Europe is rapeseed, and 2,000 pounds can be produced per acre, whereas the U.S. can only produce half that amount, due to weather or soil conditions, He said.
In the United States, soybean oil is still the dominant feedstock for biodiesel.
"The land is limited in the U.S.," He said. "We could not expand more acreage into either the soybean or other oil crops."
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Posted by Natalie at 5:33 AM 0 comments
